Insulated beverage holder

ABSTRACT

An insulated beverage holder for keeping beverages originally at temperatures above or below ambient at their original temperatures, while preventing discomfort to a user holding the beverage. In various embodiments, the insulted beverage holder comprises a plurality of insulating layers. An inner layer is designed to conform to a beverage holder. An outer layer is designed to provide a suitable gripping surface and to provide wear resistance and protection for a beverage container. In some instances intermediate layers can be present to improve the insulating qualities of the beverage holder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. Design patent applicationSer. No. ______, entitled, “Tire Shaped Beverage Holder,” filed on evendate herewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to insulated containers in general andparticularly to a beverage holder that employs a plurality of insulatedlayers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many beverage holders have been employed to retain a heated or cooledbeverage at a desired temperature different from room temperature, andto protect the hand of a person from discomfort or thermal injurysustained by holding a vessel containing the heated or cooled beverage.However, many such beverage holders are lacking in that they do littleor nothing to provide a comfortable grip or to protect the beveragecontainer itself.

There is a need for a beverage holder that will maintain a beverage at adesired temperature different from room or ambient temperature whileproviding a comfortable surface for a user to hold and while protectingthe beverage container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to an insulated beverage holder.The insulated beverage holder comprises a first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, anexternal surface and an internal cavity defined therein, the internalcavity having an opening at a first end of the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surfaceof a beverage container; and a second substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface inregistry with the external surface of the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, the second substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a firstend thereof, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial having an external surface comprising a smooth slip-resistantsurface comprising a low wear material. At least one of the firstsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and the secondsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material has a circularlayer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicularorientation to the axis of rotation of the substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material, the circular layer of insulating materialclosing off a second end of the substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material. When the beverage container contains a beverage ata temperature different from ambient temperature, the insulated beverageholder retards a flow of thermal energy between the beverage and anextremity of a person holding the insulated beverage holder.

In one embodiment the insulated beverage holder further comprises atleast a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating materialsituated adjacent at least one of the first substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material.

In another aspect, the invention features an insulated beverage holder.The insulated beverage holder comprises a first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, anexternal surface and an internal cavity defined therein, the internalcavity having an opening at a first end of the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surfaceof a beverage container; and a second substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface inregistry with the external surface of the first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, the second substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a firstend thereof, the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial having an external surface comprising a slip-resistant surfacehaving interstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material.At least one of the first substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial and the second substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial has a circular layer of insulating material aligned in asubstantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of thesubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, the circularlayer of insulating material closing off a second end of thesubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material. When thebeverage container contains a beverage at a temperature different fromambient temperature, the insulated beverage holder retards a flow ofthermal energy between the beverage and an extremity of a person holdingthe insulated beverage holder.

In some embodiments, the interstices defined in the slip-resistantsurface are periodic interstices.

In some embodiments, the insulated beverage holder further comprises atleast a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating materialsituated adjacent at least one of the first substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material and the second substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material.

The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages ofthe invention will become more apparent from the following descriptionand from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention can be better understood withreference to the drawings described below, and the claims. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placedupon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, likenumerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views.

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a perspective view in cutaway of a firstexemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a perspective view in cutaway of a secondexemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a perspective view in cutaway of a thirdexemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in one embodiment is an insulated beverage holder thatcomprises two layers of insulating material, each layer beingsubstantially in the form of a right circular cylinder having a rotationaxis and at least one open end. An inner layer of insulating material isconfigured to hold in close registry a beverage container, such as asoda can or a beer can, or a bottle of water or juice. The inner layeris typically a soft, pliable material having a cavity that canaccommodate beverage containers of different sizes, in particular havingdifferent diameters. In some embodiments, the inner layer is a pliablefoam material made from plastic or rubber. In the embodiments described,the beverage container is filled with a cold beverage, such as chilledwater, cold soda or beer, cold juice, or iced coffee. In otherembodiments, the container is filled with a hot liquid, such as hotcoffee or tea. In general, the insulated beverage holder is useful withregard to its insulating properties when the beverage in the beveragecontainer is at a temperature different from room or ambienttemperature.

The second layer of the insulated beverage holder is configured to holdthe inner insulated layer in close registry, such that an inner surfaceof the outer layer is in registry with an outer surface of the innerlayer. The outer layer comprises a material that is a thermal insulator,such as a plastic or rubber. The outer layer comprises a material thatprovides a selected one of a smooth slip-resistant surface comprising alow wear material and a slip-resistant surface having periodicinterstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material. Forexample, the smooth slip resistant surface comprising a low wearmaterial is a smooth surface made from the type of soft rubber used inthe manufacture of tires called “slicks” that are employed in dragracing. As an example, a slip-resistant surface having periodicinterstices defined therein comprising a wear resistant material is asurface made out of the type of rubber used in treaded tire manufacture,such as in treaded racing tires, treaded off road motorcycle tires, andtreaded all-terrain tires, which have a periodic pattern of groovesand/or a periodic array of protuberances. In the case of the smooth slipresistant surface, the material of construction comprises a materialthat provides a surface that can be described as “sticky” or having ahigh coefficient of friction per unit area. In contradistinction, theslip resistant surface having periodic interstices comprises a materialthat provides friction by virtue of the uneven nature of the surface. Inthis second example, friction is generated when the hand (or otherextremity) of a user of the insulated beverage holder contacts the slipresistant surface and adapts to the irregular surface profile of theslip resistant surface. The inner and outer cylindrical layers cooperateto provide protection for a beverage container held in the insulatedbeverage holder, for example by cushioning the beverage container withthe softer inner cylindrical layer, and by protecting the beveragecontainer from being impacted by hard objects with the wear resistant orlow wear outer layer.

In some embodiments, at least one of the inner and outer layers ofinsulated material are closed at one end by a circular layer ofinsulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicular orientationto the axis of rotation of the inner or outer layer of insulatingmaterial. One end of each layer is left open so that the beveragecontainer can be inserted and removed from the insulated beverage holderby translating the beverage container relative to the insulated beverageholder along a rotation axis of the insulated beverage holder. As anexample, a user can slide a cold can of soda or beer into the insulatedbeverage holder, and can then open the can and drink the contentsthereof.

FIGS. 1-3 show three different embodiments of the invention. In FIGS.1-3 the inner cylindrical layer 10 is a layer of soft foam. The beveragecontainer 20 is, for example, a can of soda having a conventional “poptop” or pull tab opening, but any conventional beverage container, suchas a plastic bottle or glass bottle of water or juice having a screwcap, can be placed in the insulated beverage holder.

FIGS. 1-3 differ in the composition and construction of the outer layerof insulation. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a drawing showing a perspectiveview in cutaway of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, theinsulated beverage holder in one embodiment comprises an outerinsulating layer 30 that is substantially a right circular cylinderhaving an outer surface that exhibits a smooth, high coefficient offriction surface. Upon gripping the insulated beverage containerdepicted in FIG. 1, the user experiences a surface that is readilygripped and that is resistive to sipping, even though the surfacecomprises a substantially right circular cylinder. By comparison, aright circular cylinder glass vessel, such as a water glass, can bequite slippery especially when moistened by water condensing on anexternal surface thereof on a hot, humid day. Furthermore, theinsulating property of the insulated beverage holder as shown in FIG. 1generally does not permit water to condense on the external surfacethereof.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a perspective view in cutaway of a secondexemplary embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 2, the composition of theouter layer 40 can be the same as the composition of the outer layer 30of FIG. 1. However, the outer surface of the outer layer 40 is madeconcave, but that is a surface that is circumscribable by asubstantially right circular cylinder. The outer surface of theinsulating layer 40 is a smooth surface, but the diameter of the layer40 is gradually and smoothly diminished as one measures from a first endof the layer 40 to substantially the middle of the layer 40, and thengradually and smoothly increases as one measures beyond the middletoward the second end of the layer 40, returning to a diameter that issubstantially equal to the diameter at the first end.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a perspective view in cutaway of a thirdexemplary embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, the outer layer 50 comprises a surface that is circumscribableby a substantially right circular cylinder in overall dimension, butthat has an array of periodic interstices. The interstices can be formedby one or more of grooves 52, indentations or dimples 54, andprotuberances 56. In some embodiments, the grooves 52, indentations ordimples 54, and protuberances 56, alone or in combination, are periodic.The outer surface of layer 50, being irregular in diameter from place toplace, provides a slip-resistant surface.

In some embodiments, the insulated beverage holder comprises at least athird substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material situatedadjacent at least one of said first substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material and said second substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material, for example to improve the insulating qualities ofthe beverage holder. In some instances, the third layer is situated inan intermediate position between the first and second layers. The thirdlayer may, for example, provide an improved physical surface or chemicalcomposition for bonding the exterior surface of the first cylindricallayer to one side thereof, and the interior surface of the secondcylindrical layer to a second side thereof. Those of ordinary skill willrecognize that more than three layers of insulating material can also beemployed.

While the present invention has been explained with reference to thestructure disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forthand this invention is intended to cover any modifications and changes asmay come within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

1. An insulated beverage holder, comprising: a first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an axis of rotation, anexternal surface and an internal cavity defined therein, said internalcavity having an opening at a first end of said first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, said first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material configured to engage a surfaceof a beverage container; and a second substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material having an axis of rotation, an internal surface inregistry with said external surface of said first substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material, said second substantiallycylindrical layer of insulating material having an opening at a firstend thereof, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial having an external surface comprising a smooth slip-resistantsurface comprising a low wear material; at least one of said firstsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and said secondsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having a circularlayer of insulating material aligned in a substantially perpendicularorientation to the axis of rotation of said substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material, said circular layer of insulating materialclosing off a second end of said substantially cylindrical layer ofinsulating material; whereby, when said beverage container contains abeverage at a temperature different from ambient temperature, saidinsulated beverage holder retards a flow of thermal energy between saidbeverage and an extremity of a person holding said insulated beverageholder.
 2. The insulated beverage holder of claim 1, further comprisingat least a third substantially cylindrical layer of insulating materialsituated adjacent at least one of said first substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material and said second substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material.
 3. An insulated beverage holder,comprising: a first substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial having an axis of rotation, an external surface and an internalcavity defined therein, said internal cavity having an opening at afirst end of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial, said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial configured to engage a surface of a beverage container; and asecond substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having anaxis of rotation, an internal surface in registry with said externalsurface of said first substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial, said second substantially cylindrical layer of insulatingmaterial having an opening at a first end thereof, said secondsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material having anexternal surface comprising a slip-resistant surface having intersticesdefined therein comprising a wear resistant material; at least one ofsaid first substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material andsaid second substantially cylindrical layer of insulating materialhaving a circular layer of insulating material aligned in asubstantially perpendicular orientation to the axis of rotation of saidsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material, said circularlayer of insulating material closing off a second end of saidsubstantially cylindrical layer of insulating material; whereby, whensaid beverage container contains a beverage at a temperature differentfrom ambient temperature, said insulated beverage holder retards a flowof thermal energy between said beverage and an extremity of a personholding said insulated beverage holder.
 4. The insulated beverage holderof claim 3, wherein said interstices defined in said slip-resistantsurface are periodic interstices.
 5. The insulated beverage holder ofclaim 3, further comprising at least a third substantially cylindricallayer of insulating material situated adjacent at least one of saidfirst substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material and saidsecond substantially cylindrical layer of insulating material.